Liquid-handling apparatus



April 30, 1929. N GARDlNER LIQUID HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet APlril 30, 1929- N. B. GARDINER LIQUID HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 an altozuu /J April 30, 1929- N. a. GARDINER MTQUTD HANDLTNG APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1925 v Sheets-Sheet 3 61m: uur

April 30, 1929. N. B. GARDINER LIOUYD HANDLJNG APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 F1 led Dec 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 h April 30, 1929. N. B. GARDINER LIQUID HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1925 April 30, 1929- N. a.- GARDINER 1,110,771

LI QUID HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet Zj v1 1.112 1 1 l 01- M40/ MAL/1.

April 30, 1929- N. B. GARDINER 1,710,771

LIQUID HANDLTNG APPARATUS Filed Dec 15, 1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES NORMAN BENTLEY GARDINER, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

LIQUID-HANDLIN G APPARATUS.

Application filed December 15, 1925. Serial No. 75,574.

This invention relates generally to improvements in. liquid handling apparatus and more especially to an apparatus designed for handling milk during the pasteurization thereof.

In the pasteurization of milk as practiced at the present time the milk heated to the titFr-llltl temperature and then held in properly insul 't l. tanks or arts at that temper- 1' 'ure tor a given length of time, after which dis-clnicged and cooled. If this process is izropcrly carried out all pathogenic bacteria and a great many other bacteria found in milk are destroyed. However, in most of the tanks or vats found in use at the pres eat time it seems to be impossible to get per- 'l'ec pastcm-izalion of the milk and it is he 'ed that this imperfect treatment is due pa cularly to two faults which are, first, lea lug valves. and. second, valves which l\ cxiend lnyond the limits of the tank or vat nd beyond the insulating covering so that re milk contained therein is not maintained at the proper temperature tor the proper .5 period of time. More specifically, leaking mlvcs prevent perfect pasteurization of the udk, because while one batch of milk is being; held in the tank to subject it to the desi ed heat For the desired length of time, raw .milk accidentally finds its way through the valve into the tank after the batch has been placed in the tank so that such accidcnlally admitted milk is not subjected to the proper temperature for the proper pc- Iii riod ol' time with the result that it is not l'eiuizod but, on the contrary, contamithe particular batch which is being in the tank. This takes place where the valve controlling the. supply of milk to the holding vat is faulty. Again, Where he valve controlling the discharge of the milk from the tank, after pasteurization, is Faulty, some of the milk admitted to the liuds its way through such faulty valve becoming perfectly pasteurized. oi this nature escaping through the i a n k 'ough the discharge conduits to previously l E batches of milk and, having escaped to e being); perfectly pasteurized, effects a contamination of the previously treated batch.

With these detects in mind the primary object contemplated by the present invent on, is the provision of liquid handling apparatus and mrlmnlarly apparatus for pasteurizing milk wherein the body of liquid or milk being held in the holding tank cannot be contaminated or otherwise affected by particles of liquid accidentally finding their way into the tank and into the body of liquid undergoing treatment within said tank.

The invention also seeks to provide a milk treating apparatus wherein the milk may be supplied to the holding tank with little or no likelihood of air becoming incorporated in the milk as it flows into the holding tank. This not only prevents foaming of the milk as it flows into the tank but also prevents incorporation of oxygen in the milk which would have a tendency to cause oxidation and deterioration of the milk itself.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel arrangement for discharging the milk or liquid after treatment from the holding tankin suchwise that it is absolutely impossible for milk or liquid held within the tank to accidentally escape from the tank and become admixed with milk or liquid previously trcateland withdrawn from the tank.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will hereinafter be more described and the novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the appemled claims.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the present improvemenls.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in F 1g. 1, some of the parts withln the apparatus being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. is an end elevation of the shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. at a detail sectional view of the non-foaming attachment which may be used in the apparatus of Figs. 13.

Fig. 5 is a detail seol ional view illustrating the arrangement for establishing the siphonic discharge of the contents of one of the holding tanks, it being understood that each of the tanks is provided with one of these devices.

Fig. 6 is a detail View of the lifting mech anism for actuating that part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5.

apparatus Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the distributing valve for successively placing the lifts of the respective discharge devices in communication with a suitable source of fluid pressure and with a vacuum tank to which such fluid or other medium is returned from the lifts.

Fig. 8 Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an ele ational view of the distributing valve shown in Figs. 7 and S.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view o'li a hydraulic valve through which. the fluid pressure medium flows from the source of supply to the lifts of the discharging devices and from said lifts to the vacuum tank from. nhence it is returned to the original source of a sectional view on line 8-S of supply.

Fig. 11. 1s a diagrammatic illustration of the apparatus to facilitate the description ot a complete cycle of operation of the device.

lVhile the invention in the present case is susceptible of use in connection with the handling of various liquids it is particularly designed for the 1 asteurization of milk and in order that the operation may be continuous there is provided a series of holding, tanks, preferably six, into which the milk is adapted to be delivered successively, held therein, and then discharged from such tanks in the order in which they were lilled. F or instance as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7 milk supplied through the pipe 11 distrilmted to the tanks by a distributor head 12, said head being shown as in position to supply the milk to tank l. Preferably, the tanks are so arranged that the distrilmtor head need not he reciprocated hack and lorth to conununicate with the same but need sin'iply be revolved, the spout of the distrilmtor head being adapted to be successively moved into connnunication with a series of: troughs 1 3 formed by partitions ll on a conically shaped plathirm 15, each of these troughs l3 communicatina with one of sa id holding tanks. From the foregoing it will. be seen that as the distributor head passes from the trough 13 COlnlllllllltttlilllg with the holding tank the milk which contii'iuously flows from said head will flow down the next trough 123 .into the holding tank 10" and after it passes the next partition the milk will be emptied into the next trough l0 and so on around the platl'orm 15 until said distrilmtor head has returned to the position to supply milk to the tank 10. The rotation o" the distributor head, however, is so timed that the milk first deposited in the tank 10 will have been held in that tank the desired length oi. time to pasteurine it and will have been discharged from said tank so that the tank is empty when the dis tributor head again reaches the position to deliver milk thereto. In other words, each tank in succession is filled with a body of milk that is held therein a certain length of time, and is then emptied before the distributor head has made a complete revolution to again fill it. In this connection it will be observed that alter distrilnitor head 12 pas. is the trough 01 one tank it is utterly impossible for any additional milk to lind its way into that particular tank to contaminate the batch deposited therein.

As the filling devices and the discharge mechanisms of each of the tanks are idcntical it is believed necessary only to describe one of each oi them, although a complete cycle 01 operation of the entire apparatus will be later described.

Milk dii-iclnn'gial into the trough .lil is adapted. to be delivered into tank lll by means of an inlet pipe ll exteiniin substanti ally to the bottom oi? the tank and while the milk may flow into the tank without any obstructions it is nrelierred that means he provided for flowing the milk into the tank without air becoming incorporated therein so as to avoid foaming. Such means il'or preventing the :l'ormation oi" loam are not really essential and may be dispensed with but in many instances the use of the same is desirablc. One arrangeincnt for preventing the teaming of milk consists in. projecting the supply pipe 16 having a closed upper end up into a vessel 17 above the tank it) into which vessel. milk delivered from trough. it, by means of a connection l8. At the bottom of said vessel. 1.7 the inlet pipe .16 is provided with a series oil ports ll), the opening and closing o'l't which is controlled by a lloat valve that may consist ol a. float 20 slidahle within the vessel ii on the upper end portion of the inlet pipe, said lioal having a depending sleeve-like portion 21 surrouiulinp the pipe 16 which substantially closes the ports if) when the lioat is depressed but which will be missed to uncover said ports when a sui'iicient quantity oil milk has entered. vessel l7 to elevate float 20. To prevent air being sucked in through ports in by milk flowing through said ports. Heat 21') so arranged with respect to the ports-1 that it will not be elevated to substantially uncover pin-ts 19 until milk delivered into vess61 17 reaches a height within the vessel above the upper ends of ports 19 so that at the moment the float is initially elevated to on cover the major portion oi" the ports and even when the float is completely elevated. to fully uncover the ports, said ports will be entirely submerged in or covert-id by the body of milk within the vessel. lllheretlore, it will be in'ipossible for air to enter pipe it; through the ports. .ln addition the linkage ol air between the upper end o'l': sleeve valve 21. and the pipe 16 prevented. by the provision ot a series of orilices 22 in. the upper end oi" said valve which permit a small imantity oil milk to flow between said sleeve and pipe,

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thereby forming a liquid seal which will prevent air reaching the ports 19. In this way no air can possibly be sucked down through inlet pipe 16 by the milk flowing through said pipe and consequently no air bubbles or foam will be formed on the body of liquid deposited in said tank.

After the milk has been held in the tank the proper length of time to thoroughly pasteurize it, it must be discharged from said tank in order that a second batch may be placed in the tank and in accordance with one oi the objects contemplated by this invention, this discharge of the milk from the tank accomplished by a discharge device that will absolutely prevent any milk leakiug out of the tank and reaching a previously pasteurized batch so as to contaminate the same. In the preferred arrangement this (.lischarge apparatus consists of a discharge pipe 23 which extends upwardly through the tank to a point above the highest point to which the tank is adapted to be filled. As illustrated, the discharge pipes of tanks It) and 10' communicate with a pipe line 24. which leads to suitable cooling apparatus and the discharge pipes of 1t), 10' and 10 communicate with a pipe 25 which is in turn connected by a suitable union to said pipe line it.

As the discharge pipe extends above the liquid level in the tank it will be obvious that liquid within the tank cannot possibly escape by accident through said pipe but for obtaining a discharge of the liquid from the tank, when desired, there slidably arranged on said pipe a sleeve 26 having a port 27 in its lower end and also provided at its lower end below said port with a laterally extending portion 28 which is adapted to engage the walls of a central bore 2!) in the bottom of a vessel or pan 30 surrounding said pipe 23 and sleeve 26. Normally. this sleeve and pan occupy a position a t the bottom of the tank with the port 27 in the sleeve spaced somewhat below the central bore in said pan and with said pan spaced slightly from the bottom of the tank by supporting legs 31 engaging said tank bottom so that as the milk flows into the tank the pan will be filled and the space between the sleeve and discharge pipe will be filled with. a film of milk up to the level of the milk in the tank proper. lVhen it is desired to discharge the milk from the tank said sleeve is raised until its lateral projecting portion 28 closes the central bore 29 of the pan after which both the sleeve and pan with its bottom closed. but with the interior of the pan crmimunicating with the space between the sleeve and pipe through port 27. This elevation of the pan and sleeve is continued until the milk in the pan has reached the height where it will flow through port 27 and over the upper end of pipe 23 after which said sleeve and pan are immediately permitted to descend until the pan reaches the surface of the liquid within the tank. By

thus starting the flow of milk downwardly through the discharge pipe 23 the entire body of milk will be siphoned out of the tank due to the ditiercnce between the depth of the milk in the tank and in the discharge pipe 23, the milk in the tank or space between the sleeve and pipe constituting the short leg of the siphon and the discharge pipe, which has been substantially filled by the milk in the pan, constituting the longer leg.

Various arrangements for thus elevating sleeve 26 and pan 3t) and for allowing those parts to gradually recede may be used in connection with the construction described, but in the preferred arrangement these movements of said parts are preferably ob tained by use of a hydraulic hit one of which is disposed at the exterior of each holding tank. As illustrated in more or less detail in Fig. 6, this automatic lift may consist of a. cylinder 32 having a piston 3;) therein with the piston rod Elsi projecting through the upper closed end of the cylinder 32, the protruding end having mounted thereon an arm 35 overhanging the tank and which is connected at itsfree end in any suitable manner with the upper end of sleeve As illustrated more or less diagrannnatically in Figs. 1 to 3 and 11, any suitable me dium, under pressure, may be supplied from a pressure tank 36 through pipe 37 to a hydraulic valve 38 and from thence through pipe 39 to a distributing valve 40 from which such fluid pressure medium can flow through a suitable pipe, indicated at 41, in Fig. 11, to the cylinder oi the lift. Upon the admission of the fluid pressure medium to said lift the piston will be raised. thereby elevating the pan 30 as before described and after the pan has been elevated the proper distance, a trip 42, secured on -a rod 4:2 mounted on a cross bar 42" on the piston 3H, Figs. 1 and (3) engages a make and. break device of an electrical circuit for the purpose of affecting a circuit through a solenoid 43 which controls the action of the l'iydraulic valve 38, the result of which is that the action of said hydraulic valve is reversed so as to permit the fluid pressi'lre medium in the lift 32 to return to p1 pe 41, valve 40, pipe 3.), to said hydraulic valve from which valve the fluid pressure medium will be returned to a pipe 4st to a vacuum tank 4.5 which is connected by a pipe -16 to the auction end of pump 47 that maintains the pressure in pressure tank 36. Upon this release of the fluid pressure medium from the lift 42 the piston in said lift together with the pan 30 is free to gradually descend a; and for the purposes hereinbefore describeiil.

l tlt) ill] As before mentioned there is a lift 32 for each holding tank lO-l() and for this reason the distrilnltingg valve l is provided with a single inlet 48 and a series of outlets ell), there being six such outlets in the presout instance to correspond with the six tanks andv lifts illustrated in Fig. l. later-ring particularly to Figs. 7 to 9 this distributing val vo ll) is Shown in more detail, said valve comprising an. outer stationary caning ll) in which is'loeated the inlet port ltrl z'ulapted. to successively register with a series of ports 41C" in the inner rotat'ahle portion 51. ot the alvc and in wl'iich outer section 50 there is also tormed the six outlet openings ll) with whiel'i a single port ill in said nuunher Si in adapted to successiwly register. The nieinher 51. which is oil 'trustoconicalv shape is held tight to its seat by means of a srnring interposed between thi i-ltationarv outer member 50 and a. nut 53 on the end oi" a stcni 5 t formed on said inner member 5 l. and projectinu' through inolnher It). Power tor to volving the inner v; lve nieniber Til, as well as other parts of the aru uuntus as will hrre- .ina l'ter he described, is derived from the motor coupled to suitable reduction gearing 5G for driving a shaft 57 which is; coupled to the inner nieniher 51. of said valve. As will appear itrom Figs. Ill--53, shaitt FT also carries a gear 58 meshing with a gear fit) on av shaft (50 which projects upwardly through the apparatus centrally ot the group of tanhu and has mounted at its upper end the distributor h ad 12 which is adapted to he rt-wolved for supplying milk to the several troughs 1; an before deseriljied.

Referring to Fig the lr ulraulic valve 38 has the inlet opening (ll tor the supply pipe 37 il roln pressure, tanlr Zltl and oullct (l2 tor the pipe 39 leading, to inlet i-ll o'ti di=-strihuior valve --l-l) and an turtlet (ill tor pipe el-fl: leading to the vac'l'uun tanl; 4L5. Inlet open-- it (ll oi ll id y i-ltl can be placed in comnlunicathu'i with outlet (ill by means oli a port (.l-l for srupplying; tiuid presaure nnaiiuln roni the tank to the lifts 32 the par-isago ot the medium through port (it being: controlled by a valve 65 which in turn is controlled ivy the solei'ioid 43 which. ael'uates a pilot valve (ill gorerning the flow nit iluid through the bf,- lllll'lSOS (ST- 68. In liig. in the parts are shown. in the position which they occupy when the i-iolcnoid {t3 li-l dnencrugixed, pilot valve 66 being seated to close hv-pasa 6. Under these coiulitions-i the valve 353 closed hetatuae the pressure on a, eolnparatiri la rue area 62) oi the "valve 70 tor openii'ig; (33 is in ca:- ceus of the prcer-uuke be' r exerted upon the iare limited area n valve (35, both (ijii valves and being nn'nuiled on the coinn en valve stem Vith the valve (353 clos-cd and ralve '70 opened the tluid pres sure medium in the hit 321- which at that time is in connnunicalien with the hydraulic valve through the distributor valve ll.) will flow from said liitt back through said v: lvo l0 and pipe 39 into the hyd .aulic valve and thence through the outlet 63 oil? said hyd raulic valve through pipe llto the mcuuin tank At the proper moment when the lift of the tanlc to he next emptied is to he actuated, solenoid +113 will he onergi'aal in a manner hereinafter described so to nus at pilot ralve (ill under which eircun1=-=tanccs the "luid pressure inediuni wil Now through livpasses G7 (38 into the sniail chaniher 'lorlned by the pz'lrtition member T2 in the hydraulic valve and the inner tare ol the washer Til 'nrl'ied on ralro stein it and as the previous lltt has been emptied and there no pres sure on uurlace (ll) 'alve (35 will he uuseaied hecauae the pressure on the taco o't washer Tl; exceeds the presuuro excrhal on the taco (35 ot valve of lh's uineating movement o't valve (35, will oif cinuz tu, close valve Tl so that the tluid pressure medium will tlow out ot outlet (32 through pipe ill) to dislrlhutor valve ll), which has been actualed one step to supply' the tluid, pressure medium to lift 32 of the next tank to he cn'iptied. Alter the pan o'l this next tank has hcen elevated the. solenoid all) will again be descnergisccll and the, pilot valve 66 perinitt'tul to return to its seat with the result tha t the artion ol the hydraulic valve will. again he rcvermal tor the purposes justset forth.

For energizing: and de-cnorgixiiur the solcnoid, ill there is a circuit containing two make and break devices one of which is indicilell generally hy the reference letter and the other by the letter 1) in Fig. ll. No pr'trticular itorin ol" maize and hreali (lo-- rice is neces and tor this reason in the present instance the matte and lu'ealr dcrire (l is shown as hein g composed ot a. tired contact Ti and a niovalile contact T5 which is adapted to he oscillated or roclq d hr lueaus oi a lever (5 which in turn is, ruched on its p vot b v the lingg'eiz-l oli a rotatahle wheel 'TT whicl is :ulaptnd to he rulalrd luv the shalt 57 on which it nounted, said wheel harinu' a nurnher ot lingers corresponding to the llllllllltl ot tilts 9:2. When the :1. paralu is in operation the line switch 7a is closed and upon one ot the lingers oi" the wheel T? ongaging the underside oi lever Til said lnrrr will be roelted to more contact T5 into cngiagenient with conlact Tit whereupon :1 ch cull; will be established through wire Til. through contact --T-ch through line all to solendhl 4 from solenoid i l lhri'iupfh line St to the fixed contact of the nraltn and hrlaalt device l) and, l roln the un'rahlu conta t 8 l ot said maize and hreal: ucr ce which at that time will. he in engagement with contact 3 llilt'il'lfll wires li d 3 hack to the source ol' 5:; u) )lv ol'i electric 0110111 It Will, he under- L V 1 l I break device or tinier lDOti that the ope fallen ol thev maize and. C no regulated that l ill) l l t I l I H l ill) liltl the circuit just described will be established atthe moment the pan 30, in say tank 10, is to be elevated to initiate discharge of the milk from the tank and that at the time solenoid l3 thus energized to elevate the pilot valve of the hydraulic valve 38, the distributor valve 40 will have been moved by shaft 57 to a position to permit the fluid pressure medium to be supplied to the lift 32 of said tank 10. hen the lift of the tank has elevated the pan to a point where the contents of said pan will be discharged into the discharge pipe 16 of the holding tank the trip 42 *arried by said lift 32 will actuate a switch S6 to close a circuit through a magnctic relay 87 whose armature 88 carries the movable contact 83 of the make and break device D. This circuit for energizing the magnetic relay 87 is composed of wire 85 running from the line switch 7 8 to the snap switch S6 and by wire 89 running from said snap switch back to one post of the coil of the magnetic relay and from the other post of said coil is a wire 90 which is connected to wire 80 of the circuit first described so that the circuit for said magnetic relay is completed by the contact 7d-75 of the make and break device C which contacts are still maintained in engagement and wire 7 9 which leads back to the line switch 78. \Vhen movable contact 83 of the make and break device D is moved by the attraction of armature 88 of the magnetic relay it is brought into engagement with a fixed contact 91 on branch line 89 of wire 89 so that not only is the circuit through the solenoid F broken so as to permit of the return pilot valve 66 of the hydraulic valve 38 to its closed position and thus reverse the action of the valve as before described, but, by the engagement of contacts SEE-91 a shunt circuit is maintained through the magnetic relay so as to retain contact 83 out of engagement with contact 82 to prevent solenoid 43 being again energized until the fluid pressure medium has returned from lift 42 back to vacuum tank -15 and until distributor valve G has been rotated one step to connect the hydraulic valve 38 with the lift of the next holding tank to be emptied. This shunt circuit for the magnetic relay runs from line switch 78 through wire 79, contacts 74 -75, wire 80 to Wire 90, to coil 87, line 89, branch line 89*, contacts 9l*-83 to line 8-} and line 85, back to the line switch. 7 This shunt circuit is provided because the snap switch 86 which actuated by the trip on lift 32 is maintained closed only momentarily, being adapted to be opened, for instance, by spring pressure almost instantly after it has been closed due to the fact that the lift 32 begins to descend and thereby releases the switch almost immediately after the solenoid 43 has been de energized to permit the return of the fluid pressure medium from lift 32 back to the through said vacuum tank. Before the next tank is to be emptied the tinger which had previously actuated lever 76 of the make and break device C has passed on and said lever is actuated by a spring 98 to disengage contacts 74-7 5, thus tie-energizing the magnetic relay and permitting contact 83 to return into engagement with contact 82 so that when the next finger comes around at the proper time to empty the next succeeding tank that linger will again rock lever solenoid 43 to open the pilot valvetlti and permit the flow of fluid pressure medium from hydraulic valve 38 to distributor valve 40 which, during the rotation of wheel 77 will have also been rotated one step to dis tribute the fluid )ressure medium throu h a pipe 41 to the lift 32 of the next tank to lie emptied. In this way solenoid F is alternately energized and de-energized each time distributor valve 40 is rotated one step so that the pressure fluid medium is delivered to and returned from the lift 32 of the sev eral holding tanks in succession.

In accordance with usual practice, a strainer 92 is placed in pipe line 37 leading from pressure tank 36; the vacuum tank is provided with the usual filling valve 93 and vacuum gage 94, and the pressure tank is provided with any desired ty e of safety valve 95, pressuregage96 an liquid level gage 97.

What I claim is; v

y 1. In a liquid handling apparatus, the combination of aholding tank, means for supplying liquid to said tank, an outlet extending upwardly into said tank to a point abovethe level to which said tank is adapted to be filled, a sleeve slidable longitudinally on said outlet pipe and havin a port near its end remote from the end 0 said pipe, a vessel surrounding said pipe and sleeve and normally positioned near said ported end of the sleeve and bottom of said holding tank, whereby it will be filled with liquid when liquid is supplied to said tank,

said vesselbeing ada ted to communicate with the port in the s eeve, and meansfor elevating said sleeve and vessel to a point to discharge the contents of the vessel port and into the outlet pipe to institute a siphonic action for discharging the contents of the tank through said outlet pipe, said vessel and sleeve being free to ,return to their original position within the body of liquid tomaintain said siphonic action. i y

2. In a liquid handling apparatus, the combination of a series of holding tanks, means fol-supplying liquid to the several tanks successively, a discharge device for each tank normally inoperative, a h draulic lift connected to each discharge evice, a pressure tank for supplying power to the lit, a vacuumtank to which the pressure 76 and again energize thereby return to cac medium may be returned from each lift, ahydraulic valve connected to said pressure ank and said vacuum tank, a discharge valve connected to said hydraulic valve and to each of the several lifts and adapted to successively place the several tanks in communication with the hydraulic valve, means for periodically actuating the hydraulic valve to supply pressure successively to the respective lifts through the distributor valve, and means operable after each lift has been elevated a predetcrn'iined distance to render its discharge device operative for reversing the action of the hydraulic valve thereby turning the pressure medium from said lift to said vacuum tank, and a pui'np adapted to remove said medium from the vacuum tank and restore it to the pressure tank under suitable pressure.

5. In a liquid handl 1 1' apparatus, the combiiurtion of a series of holding tanks, means for supplying liquid to the several tanks successively, a discharge device for each tank normally inoperative, a hydraulic lift connected to each discharge device, a pressure tank for su plying power to the lift, a vacuum tank to which the pressure medium may be returned from each lift, a hydraulic valve connected to said pressure tank and said vacuum tank, a distributing valve connected to said hydraulic valve and to each of seve 'al lifts and adapted to suecessively place the several tanks in communication with the hydraulic valve, a solenoid operatively associated with the hydraulic valve, means for establishing a circuit to the solenoid for actuating said hydraulic valve to supply pressure successively to the respective lifts through the distributor valve, and means operable after each lift has been elevated a predetermined distance to render its discharge device operative for reversing the ration of the hydraulic valve 1g the pressure medium from said lift to said vacuum tank, and a pump adapted to remove said medium from the vacuum tank and restore it to the pressure tank under suitable pressure.

l. In a liquid handling apparatus, the combination of a series of holding tanks, means for supplying liquid to the several tanks successively, a discharge device for each tank normally inoperative, a hydraulic lift connected to each discharge device, a pressure tank for supplying power to the lift, a. vacuum tank to which the pressure medium may be returned from each lift, a hydraulic valve connected to saidfpressure tank and, said vacui'un tank, a distributing valve connected to said. hydraulic valve and h of the several lifts and adapted to smrcessivcly place the several tanks in communication with the hydraulic valve, means for periodically actuating the hydraulic valve to supply pressure successively to the filling thereof when liquid is .ro-ipcctiwi lifts through the distributor valve, means operable by each lift for breaking the circuit through the solenoid to re verse the action of said hydraulic valve and permit return of the pressure medium from the lifts to the vacuum tank, thereby per mitting the respective lifts to descend, and a pump adapted to remove said medium from the vacuum tank and restore it to the pressure tank under suitable pressure.

5. In an apparatus for handling liquids, the combination of a holding tank a ad a discharge device for the same, said device comprising a pipe extending up through the tank to a point above the level to \vhirh said tank is to he tilled and open at its upper end, a. sleeve slidable hmgitudinally on the pipe to and from said open end, a vessel surrounding said sleeve and having a. port therein, a shoulder on said sleeve adapted to engage the vessel to elevate the same with said sleeve, sai d sleeve also having a port therein adapted to cslabli:-1h communication between the port in the vessel and the space between the sleeve and pipe, means for elevating said s-ileeve and vessel after the tank and vessel have been tilled with liquid whereby liquid flowing from the vessel through said ports will be (lOllVt-l'ill into the opening at the upper end of the pipe, and means for rendering the lifting means inoperative after flow of liquid into said pipe has been established whereby the vessel may recede and produce a continuous film of liquid within the sleeve from the upper end of the discharge pipe to the level of the liquid in the tank.

6. In a liquid handling apparatus, the combination of a holding tank, means for srqiplying liquid to said tank, an outlet pipe extending i'qiwardly into said tank to a point above the level to which the tank is adapted to be filled, a receptacle slidable longitiulinally of the outlet pipe, said rcceptacle having a port therein to facilitate delivered to the tank, means for moving said receptacle along said outlet pipe to a position to discharge its contents into said pipe, and. means for closing the port in said. receptacle when the latter is so moved.

7.111 a liquid handling apparatus, the tauulrination of a holding tank, an outlet pipe extending upwardly .into said tank to a point above the level to which said tank is adapted to be filled, a receptacle surrtumding said pipe, and a sleeve surroundingsaid pipe and adapted to engage said receptacle for elevating the latter on said Outlet pipe, said sleeve having a. port therein through which the interior of said receptacle may communicate with said outlet pipe to discharge its contents into said pipe.

8.111 a liquid handling apparatus-t, the combination of a holding tank, an outlet fit) pipe extending upwardly into said tank to a point above the level to which said tank 1s adapted to be filled, a receptacle surrounding said pipe, and a sleeve surrounding said pipe and adapted to engage said receptacle for elevating the latter on said outlet pipe, said sleeve having a port therein. through which the interior of said receptacle may communicate with said outlet pipe to discharge its contents into said pipe, said sleeve being at pable of moving downwardly on said pipe independently of the receptacle after the latter has been elevated to a position adjacent the upper end of said pipe.

9.111 a liquid hamlling apparatus, the cijn'nbination of a holding tank, an outlet pipe extending upwardly in said tank to a point above the level to which said tank is adapted to be filled, a receptacle in said tank adapted to be elevated on said pipe and discharge its contents in said pipe to initiate a siphoning of liquid from said tank through said pipe and means for maintaining said siphoning action independently of said initiating means.

10. In a liquid handling apparatus, the

combination of a holding tank, an outlet p'ipe extending u m 'ardly in said tank to a point above the level to which said tank is adapted to he filled, a receptacle in said tank adapted to be elevated on said pipe and dis charge its contents in said pipe to initiate a siphoning of liquid from said tank through said pipe and a sleeve surrounding said pipe capable of maintaining communication between said outlet pipe and the body of liquid in said tank regardless of the level of said body of liquid.

11,. In a liquid handling apparatus, the combination of a holding tank, an outlet pipe extending upwardly in said tank, a receptacle slidable on said pipe and having a port therein, a sleeve slidahle on said pipe and having a port therein through which said receptacle may communicate with said outlet pipe when said reee )tacle is moved adacent the upper end of said outlet pipe, and means carried by said sleeve for closing the port in said receptacle when said receptacle is elevated on the outlet pipe.

NORMAN BENTLEY GARDINER. 

